Question for Australian Importers of sub drivers

[damo21]

Hi, any aussies out there know how much customs would charge to import a 12" sub driver into Australia?
I had problems with other types of imports, ended up costing more than it was worth, AFTER i paid ebay "shipping" costs...
Thx

[rabbitz]

The key to importing from the USA (other countries as well), is to have it sent via USPS (US Postal Service) and not by Fedex, UPS or other carriers. As long as it's sent via a postal service you can import quite a bit and I have never paid duties or GST on any item and I think the most expensive was around US$250.

Here's some general rules from Australian Customs:
LOW VALUE IMPORTS.
You do not have to pay any customs duty or GST on low value imports.
The rules for low value imports are:
1. Each import by post must not be valued at more than $1000.
2. Each import by air or sea must not be valued at more than $250.
3. For each import, the total customs duty and GST that would
normally be payable must not be more than $50.

You just have to make sure the supplier will ship via USPS and airmail is not much more expensive than surface mail. I normally get deliveries from the US within 5-8 days.

Customs duty is 5% and is based on the selling price of the goods and GST of 10% is based on the selling price + duty + shipping costs + insurance.

[Cloth Ears]

Ditto what rabbitz said.

I imported some Lambda bass drivers a few years ago and had them sent via USPS (all in individual boxes) - and they came through without charge. Same with the books I get from the US and UK.

Post is the way to go if the seller will do it for you (and most will, for the business). BUT, make sure that the items are packed well (preferably a box within a box) as they can get some biffs along the way. Offer a bit extra for better packaging and you should be right. One of my drivers packages had the outer box breached by a probable drop, so I'm glad the packaging was strong.

[RobWells]

I've just bought a tempest driver from the us, sent by USPS and that arrived in perfect condition. Took 6 weeks though , but only cost $60 USA - > UK.

Cheers,

Rob.

[damo21]

Cool! Thanks fellas. So does that mean the low valued USPS imports like this get delivered to your door? Or do you still need to pick them up from customs? How do customs know that your goods are low valued? Do you call them before it arrives or something and then it will get delivered to your door??
Sorry for the newb questions, but i'd like to save unnecessary trips to tulla. hehe

[rabbitz]

Yep... right to your door like a normal parcel posted here. The seller puts a customs declaration sticker on it with the value etc and someone in the postal service must check that when it arrives in Oz.

All you do is place your order, specifiying USPS, then sit back and wait for the white van to pull up with your package. You don't have to do a thing except thank the person for delivering it.

[damo21]

Awesome!
Thanks rabbitz = RZaudio Can't wait to get the amp i ordered off you! HEHE
All i need now is to buy that last Shiva off ebay and i'm set!

[damo21]

Hmmm what about importing from Canada? What is the name of a good postal service?

[boogs]

Canada's official post office is (appropriately enough) called Canada Post. Though i've not shipped anything to any other continent, i believe the same rules apply as were mentioned with regards to USPS. UPS is evil anywhere and is to be avoided; certainly some of the highest brokerage fees i've ever seen (and i'm in the warehousing/shipping biz).

Scott

[damo21]

Erm, ok does that mean I can ask someone in Canada to ship to me via USPS on ebay? Sorry I'm confused.
Ok so UPS is a bad choice, thx Scott. So what's a good alternative?